Director OF Operations

Director of OperationsThe Director of Operations is the senior on-site operating leader and the execution counterweight to the Head of Operations. The Head of Operations owns the up-and-out work: the 1-year, 3-year, and 10-year operational plan and the establishment of standards and culture consistent with our client's Vision, Mission, and Core Values. The Director of Operations owns the down-and-in work: 100% focus on the daily, weekly, and monthly execution required to deliver against those objectives. This role exists so that operational throughput, compliance, and site readiness are never wholly dependent on the Head of Operations' availability, and so that strategic capacity at the Head of Operations level is protected rather than consumed by the operating rhythm. This is a builder's job as much as an operator's job. The site is in active buildout. The successful candidate will run today's operations while simultaneously standing up the processes, systems, and teams that Phase 2 and Phase 3 will require.Scope of ResponsibilityLogistics / Supply ChainSite OperationsHealth, Safety, and SecurityIT / InfoSec Coordination-only functionFinance/Accounting appears adjacent to Operations on the current org chart but sits outside the Operations portfolio. The Director of Operations does not own this function but is expected to maintain a strong working interface with it — particularly on cost tracking, inventory valuation, budgeting and forecasting, variance reporting, and purchase authority.FunctionsOperating Rhythm and Execution (primary accountability)Logistics and Supply ChainSite OperationsHealth, Safety, Security, and ComplianceIT and Information SecurityLeadership and Organizational BuildQualificationsBachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.Minimum 8–10 years of progressive operations leadership, including at least 3 years with direct P&L or multi-function operational ownership.Demonstrated experience leading multiple dissimilar functions simultaneously (e.g., supply chain and facilities and safety), not deep expertise in a single vertical.Proven track record in a regulated manufacturing or industrial environment with substantive compliance obligations.Direct experience with inventory control, procurement, and production scheduling.Experience hiring and building teams from a small base.Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. person status as required by ITAR/EAR.PreferredExperience in defense manufacturing or as a DoD supplier, with working familiarity with DCMA, DSCA, and DFARS requirements.Experience with ATF-regulated operations and explosives or energetics safety frameworks (ESSP, SSP).Greenfield or brownfield site buildout experience — standing up operations where processes do not yet exist.ERP/MRP implementation or optimization experience.Familiarity with CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, and DFARS cybersecurity flow-down requirements.Exposure to OT/ICS cybersecurity in a production environment.Formal continuous improvement credentials (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent).Prior military logistics, engineering, or installation-management leadership.Experience supporting an acquisition integration.